Yet, headed into Wednesday's matchup with the Nets, the Warriors sit at a respectable 6-5, notching impressive road victories against the Clippers, Timberwolves and Mavericks while barely losing a few heartbreakers down the stretch.

Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

They are playing defense, holding opponents' field goal percentage to 42.9 percent for sixth-best in the NBA.

They are enjoying outstanding production from their three impressive rookies. David Lee is being David Lee. Even Andris Biedrins is contributing energy, rebounds and defense off the bench.

But for the Warriors to establish themselves as a playoff team in the Western Conference, they need Stephen Curry to be the warrior he was Monday night at Dallas.

After tweaking his ankle on the foot of Bernard James, Curry sat on the floor for a moment, in the throes of visible frustration. But something must have clicked, because he stood up a changed player.

A player with a fire burning inside.

A refusal to let this ankle, this injury that consumed most of last season, limit him again.

A refusal to let another close win get away.

And with every passionate clap and exhortation, with every clutch contested three and needle-threading dime, a picture began to develop.

Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

A picture that screamed out to the world with clarity and force when he chased down a fast break, stripped the ball free and crashed to the floor beneath the hoop.

Stephen Curry had arrived.

And as he sat momentarily to collect himself, you could see in his eyes that he was a man possessed. A man in the zone of what many agree was the best game of his career.

This is exactly the player the Warriors need to solidify their position among the West's top eight teams.

The player who takes over at the end of close games to will his team to victory.

The player whom the Warriors knew they had when they decided to trade away their best scorer.

If this is the player that shows up every night to lead this deep and talented team, Warriors fans have every reason to start believing again.